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A Decade of Sharing

A DCS bus drops people off at the annual Feast of Sharing hosted by Central Market and HEB.

For the past 10 years, Central Market and HEB have hosted the Feast of Sharing in November, providing a full Thanksgiving meal, music and fun to low- to no-income individuals. Dallas is just one of 30 locations throughout Texas where HEB hosts a Feast of Sharing. Dallas County Schools has partnered with Central Market and HEB since the beginning to help shuttle those in need of a free, hot meal from six Dallas-area locations including: The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, Anita Martinez Recreation Center, the Dallas Life Foundation, Lakewest YMCA, Jubilee Park and Community Center and the Salvation Army-Harry Hines.

This year’s festivities kicked off November 10 at Centennial Hall in Fair Park where over 8,300 people were expected to attend. Every year, Central Market staff and hundreds of volunteers are able to serve up anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of turkey and 1,500 pounds of mashed potatoes and stuffing to Dallas’ hungriest people. The Feast of Sharing is unique in that attendees are seated and served their meals so they do not even have to lift a finger, an experience for many that is few and far between.

Aside from turkey, pumpkin pie and all the trimmings, those attending can enjoy free haircuts, health screenings, flu shots and socks, all provided at no cost, as well as over 60 vendors that provide any services from job placement to temporary housing. For children, there is face painting, bounce houses, cookie decorating, picking up books at the book drive and even getting to visit with Santa!

Dallas County Schools is proud to have participated in the Feast of Sharing and to play an instrumental role in getting these resources to those who need them most, especially around the holidays. Senior Vice President of Central Market, Stephen Butt, put it best, “our goal is very simple: we want to put a smile on everyone’s face who is here and we want to carry that feeling with us out into the community.”